Love and Marriage

Words in Use (Lesson 25)

• architect
• matrimony
• baggage
• squander
• abroad
• fugitive
• calamity
• pauper
• envy
• collapse
• prosecute
• bigamy

Read the following passage to see how the new words are used in it.
   
Love and Marriage
The famous architect Melville Fenton grew tired of matrimony and devised* a scheme to free himself of his spouse.* He told her he had been engaged by an American company to design its new office building in Paris. Packing his baggage, he left his home and proceeded* to cut all his ties with his former life. He changed his name, secured a new job, and quickly forgot his faithful wife. Not having any responsibilities, he began to squander his money and energy. He married another woman, believing he was safe from the law. But his first wife had grown suspicious and resentful.* She learned from his employer that he had not gone abroad, that in fact he had left the firm altogether. With a little detective work, she soon discovered her husband's whereabouts. He had become a fugitive from justice* and one calamity after another overtook him. He lost his job, became a pauper and was no longer the envy of his acquaintances. Then his second wife grew ill and died. After the collapse of his plans, there was only one logical* step for Melville to take. He embraced* his wife and asked for her forgiveness. Much to his relief, she decided not to prosecute him for bigamy.